Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-12-08
COUNTRY ROADS.

rogated by number of citizens of Bel-
mont county recently upon the proprie-
| ty of enacting new road law for Ohio
in keeping with the prog1 ess and pros
perity Of this centennial year-and with
a view of ascertaining the sentiments Of
our people and especially the agricul-
tursl population upon this important
question, l desire through the medinm
OF our county papers to ask for an e1-
preston of opinion.
am glad to see that my colleague,
Col. Poorman, is using the columns of
his paper for similar purpose
-Four years ago contributed an a1ti-
Gle to the Ohio State Journal, from
which, with your consent, l will make
the following extracts:
There is perhaps no subject of mora
vital Importance to the public general
ly and the farming community in partic-
ular, than the question of making aud
maintaining our pnbIic roads.
IF there is one undesirable feature in
country life, that restricts the farmers
social intercourse, cGrtGils his comfort
and conYeniences, depreciates the value
of his land and renders his calling dis
tasteful, it is the miserable roads that
he makes without Judgment and main
tains without labor, for the pretense OF
working the roads has become Il silly
farce-an obligation that every one
feels at liberty TO violate.
1.-The present road law was probably
we'll adapted to the pioneer age of the
State, when money was scarce where
with to pay taxes, and the burden Of
road making fell upon few farmers,
but it is not in keeping with the progress
and civilization of the 18th century. In
Belmont county, under our present sys-
TEN, the ten or twelve thousand dollars
annually expended as road tx, is prac-
tically buried in mire.
''If this amount was expended judi
ciously and under the direction of
competent road builder, instead Of a
score or more of inefficient and inexperi-
enced supervisors, the county would in
ten OF twelve years be girdled by sys-
TEN of compact, well drained roads of
easy grade, over which the products of
the farm could be transported to market
with comparative ease from September
until Maya transformation that would
add incalculable wealth to the county
and comfort to the farmer
Permit me to suggest briefly the
outline OF law that believe will effect
the desired end:
First Abolish the two days labor
clause-undor the existing law this is
only an additional burden that the re-
sponsible farmer is required to bear,
while irresponsible parties who refuse
to work, cannot be compelled, and un-
der our Constitution cannot be deprived
of the right Of suffrage.
SECOND Require the road tax to be
paid into the county treasury, and the
money thus collected expended pro rata,
under the supervision Of a competent
county or township Road Commission
er,who should be practical road build
er and surveyor.
'THIRD-Require that all work bo
done by contract--th awards to be
made to the lowest responsible bidder
for term Of one or more yeara.
Under such lawof which the above
is but crude outline, farmers may
still work out their road tax by bidding
for the work of their respective neigh
borhoods, which, of course, they can az
ford to do cheaper than any conpeti-
tors from abroad.
"And it Is understood that this Law
will moi interfere with the present sys-
ten of toll roads,
While the above plan was suggested
by me four years ago, [ may add that I
have no hobby or pet project to chan
pion, but as your Representative sim
ply desire to advocate such measure
as will be endorsed by the great major
ity Of my constituents, and to that end
L would suggest that this question be
made a subject for discussion in Farrn-
ers' Clubs and at the forthcoming Farm
ers' Institute, and the opportunity af-
forded the farmers for free inter
change Of opinion. Surely any plan of
transforming the present quagmires in
to smooth, compactroads,p passable at all
seasons Of Fthe year, wonld inure to the
public veal. Very Respfy,
A. T. McKELvnY.
st. Clairsville, o.. Dec. s, '87.